Critical observations of print/broadcast/Web media plus public relations and advertising

June 13, 2012

Philadelphia tops the list of bedbug-infested U.S. cities

Grumpy Editor today lists 15 U.S. cities that are the most bedbug infested because newspapers in the affected communities most likely tossed the story because editors aren’t “buggy” about running negative tallies involving their marketing areas.

The annual compilation by Terminix, the pest control company that deals with the tiny, crawly critters, puts Philadelphia at the top of the list.

Philly takes the title held for two years by New York City, which slips to third place.

Ranking second this year is Cincinnati.

Here’s how the rest of the major cities stack up, based on data from 300 Terminix branches.

4 --- Chicago

5 --- Detroit

6 --- Washington, D.C.

7 --- Columbus, Ohio

8 --- San Francisco

9 --- Denver

10 -- New Haven

11 -- Dallas

12 -- Houston

13 -- Indianapolis

14 -- Miami

15 -- Cleveland

Terminix, a division of ServiceMaster Co., says the 2012 rankings prove bedbugs continue to be a problem across the country, with New Haven, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami and Cleveland joining the top 15 this year.

The pest control firm points out Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Columbus, San Francisco and Dallas are seeing growing bedbug populations this year, while noting three major cities in Ohio are on the list.